Port St. Lucie had extra security at two recent meetings on Torino Treatment Campus

PORT ST. LUCIE — Passionate reaction by residents opposing a controversial proposed drug treatment center caused the police department to heighten security when the project was discussed at two meetings this month.

Planning and zoning board member Ken Martin said he even wore a bullet proof vest when the board discussed Torino Treatment Campus on Sept. 3. He caused uproar among some residents when he said at a previous meeting the city would be discriminating against recovering drug addicts if it rejected the 70-bed treatment complex proposed near St. Lucie West.

Residents did not send threats to planning and zoning board members or to City Council. The latter made the final decision to reject the Torino Campus on Monday, when about 160 residents packed City Hall.

Still, Police Chief John Bolduc said he provided extra security at the two meetings — four extra officers for City Council and three extra for the planning and zoning board.

“There weren’t any threats but a there was a lot of passion,” Bolduc said. “We were trying to be very prudent.”

Planning and zoning board members said they were instructed to call a recess if residents at the meeting became violent. They also learned what to do if there was a shooting.

“We were told to get down, and they showed me where the side doors were to get me out,” board member Christine Skurka said. She also said city staff recommended she park her car near the exit.

Bolduc said although there was no reason to suspect violence could erupt at the meetings, recent acts of violence at other Florida public meetings prompted him to take the extra precaution.

“In any kind of meeting if we know it’s going to be emotionally charged we will increase security,” he said.